Transcoding Orally and in Writing The Information Presented in Diagrams [PDF]

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TRANSCODING ORALLY AND IN WRITING THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN DIAGRAMS, CHARTS, TABLES, AND GRAPHS



In your earlier years in school, you learned about the different kinds of graphs. Can you remember what they are? Can you remember how to read the information in each kind?  Reading a Bar Graph A bar graph uses bars to present numerical information. Graph 1 below is called a horizontal bar graph while Graph 2 is a vertical bar graph. Can you tell why?



Study the graphs. What is the title of each? The title tells you what the graph is about. What information is given at the left side of Graph 1? What information is given at the top? Note that each space between vertical lines represents 5,000 species. To find out the number of species in a class, determine the approximate point at which the bar for that class ends. Then, relate it to the figures at the top of the vertical lines. For example, the bar for reptiles ends about 1/5 of the way between 5 000 and 10 000. This means that the species of reptiles number about 6 000 (5 000 + 1/5 of 5 000 ). Note further that the graph makes it easy for you to see at a glance the following: 1. the number of species in each class 2. the difference in number between classes Graph 2 is read the same way except the information is found at the bottom instead of at the top. What information do you get from Graph 2?



 Reading a Pictograph In a pictograph, pictures or symbols are used instead of bars. Each symbol or picture stands for a particular quantity as explained in the key.



What is the pictograph above about? You can get this information from the title. What does each symbol represent? You can get this information from the key at the bottom of the pictograph. From this information you can tell that half a symbol represents ½ of five million. What information do you get from this pictograph?  Reading a Line Graph type



Another of graph is presented below.



The title tells you that the graph presents information about the estimated amount of world water use. The numbers at the left indicate that each space between the horizontal lines represents 2000 cubic kilometers. The spaces between vertical lines represent intervals of twenty years. To find out how much water was used in 1960, locate the vertical line for that year. Follow that line until you come to the thick line that crosses it. The two lines intersect at the horizontal line numbered 2000, which means that in 1960, about 2000 cubic kilometers of water was used worldwide. Line graphs are often used to observe a trend or change over a period of time.



 Reading a Pie Graph or Circle Graph Circle or pie graphs usually give information in percentage. The whole circle represents a total number of 100% of something, and each part represents a fraction or percentage of the whole. Study Graph 5, then answer the questions that follow. From what kind of food should we get most of our calories? What should be the percentage of our calorie intake from protein?



When you are using graphs, you should remember the following: 1. Look only for the information you need. Graphs often present more information than you want. Get only the information you need and disregard the others. 2. Graphs usually present only approximate figures. Usually the information in graphs are rounded. Most graphs are not designed to show specific amounts.  Reading a Table When you do research work, what sources of information do you use? When you get information from print media, do you study the tables that are presented together with the information? Many kinds of information can be presented clearly in the form of a table. Transportation schedules, scores in games, and comparisons are more clearly presented on tables than on graphs. The title of the table gives the subject of the information or data being presented. More specific information is given in the headings for the columns and the rows. To read a table, do the following: 1. Determine what the table is about. The table on this page presents information about the number of medals won by each participating country in the SEA Games as a certain date.



2. Study the headings at the top of each column. The first column in Table 1, tells what countries are participating, the second column, how many gold medals have been won by each country? What information is learned from the third and fourth columns? 3. Use the headings for the rows and columns to locate specific information. If you wish to know how many bronze medals were won by the Philippines, you would run your finger down the first column until you come to the Philippines. Then you move to the fourth column headed Bronze  Learning from Charts A chart is a drawing that shows organization or relationships through the use of words, pictures, or symbols, or a combination of all three. The organization of an office is better shown through a chart, as in the following.



Exercises A. Study the table, then answer the questions that follow.



1. 2. 3. 4. 5.



What is the average distance of Planet Earth from the sun? Which planet has the biggest diameter? the smallest? Which planet has the most number of moons? Which ones have no moons at all? Which planet has the longest year? the shortest? Which planet has the fastest rotation period? the slowest?



B. Study the figures below. Then answer the questions that follow.



1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.



What materials make up a filter bed? Which material in a filter bed is topmost? Which one makes up the bottom layer? Which is bigger – the front gear of a bicycle or the back gear? Are the gears flat, smooth round disks or are they large-toothed wheels? What things are attached to the front gear? What connects the front and back gears? What percentage of water is lost due to faulty field application? due to a faulty irrigation system? 8. How much of the water worldwide is used effectively in cropping?